Second Substitute H.B. 74

Representative Ronda Rudd Menlove proposes the following substitute bill:

1 TUITION PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS SEEKING
2 TEACHER LICENSURE IN DISABILITY
3 OR SPECIAL EDUCATION
4 2005 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Sponsor: Ronda Rudd Menlove
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill modifies the Terrel H. Bell Teaching Incentive Loans program.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . modifies the eligibility of students for the Terrel H. Bell Teaching Incentive Loans
14 program;
15 . directs the State Board of Education's prioritization of critical areas of need for
16 teaching expertise within the state; and
17 . makes technical corrections.
18 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
19 None
20 Other Special Clauses:
21 None
22 Utah Code Sections Affected:
23 AMENDS:
24 53B-10-101, as last amended by Chapter 86, Laws of Utah 2001
25 53B-10-102, as last amended by Chapter 86, Laws of Utah 2001

26
27 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
28 Section 1. Section 53B-10-101 is amended to read:
29 53B-10-101. Terrel H. Bell Teaching Incentive Loans program -- Eligible
30 students -- Cancellation of incentive loans -- Repayment by recipient who fails to meet
31 requirements -- Duration of incentive loans.
32 (1) (a) A Terrel H. Bell Teaching Incentive Loans program is established to recruit and
33 train superior candidates for teaching in Utah's public school system as a component of the
34 teacher quality continuum referred to in Subsections 53A-1a-104 (7) and 53A-6-102 (2)(a).
35 (b) Under the program, the incentive loans may be used in any of Utah's state-operated
36 institutions of higher education or at a private institution of higher education in Utah that offers
37 a state-approved teacher education program.
38 (2) (a) The State Board of Education or the State Board of Regents shall award the
39 incentive loans to students who have been admitted to, or have made application to and are
40 prepared to enter into, a program preparing students for licensure and who declare an intent to
41 complete the prescribed course of instruction [required for a teaching license] and to teach in
42 [the public schools of] this state in accordance with the priorities described under Subsection
43 (5)(c).
44 (b) The incentive loan may be canceled at any time by the institution of attendance if:
45 (i) the student fails to make reasonable progress towards completion of licensing
46 requirements; or
47 (ii) it appears to be a reasonable certainty that the student does not intend to teach in
48 Utah.
49 (c) The State Board of Regents may grant leaves of absence to incentive loan holders.
50 (3) The State Board of Regents may require an incentive loan recipient who fails to
51 complete the requirements for licensing without good cause to repay all tuition and fees
52 provided by the loan, together with appropriate interest.
53 (4) (a) The State Board of Regents may require an incentive loan recipient who does
54 not work in the state's public school system or a private school within the state within two years
55 after graduation to repay all tuition and fees provided by the loan, together with appropriate
56 interest, unless waived for good cause.

57 (b) (i) A recipient who does not teach for a term equal to the number of years of the
58 incentive loan within a reasonable period of time after graduation shall repay a graduated
59 portion of the tuition and fees based upon the uncompleted term.
60 (ii) One year of teaching is credit for one year's tuition and fees.
61 (c) All repayments made under this Subsection (4) are for use in the Terrel H. Bell
62 Teaching Incentive Loans program.
63 (5) (a) Each incentive loan is valid for up to four years of full-time equivalent
64 enrollment, or until requirements for licensing or advanced licensing have been met, whichever
65 is less.
66 (b) (i) Incentive loans apply to both tuition and fees in amounts and are subject to
67 conditions approved by the State Board of Regents, based upon criteria developed to insure that
68 all recipients of the loans will pursue an education career [in Utah's public education system or
69 a private school] within the state.
70 (ii) An incentive loan for tuition and fees at a private institution may not exceed the
71 average scholarship amounts granted for tuition and fees at public institutions of higher
72 education within the state.
73 (c) Incentive loans shall be awarded in accordance with prioritized critical areas of need
74 for teaching expertise within the state's public education system as determined by the State
75 Board of Education[.], with first priority given to preparing teachers within this state as:
76 (a) a special education teacher;
77 (b) a school psychologist;
78 (c) a speech or language pathologist; or
79 (d) another licensed professional providing services in the public schools to pupils with
80 disabilities.
81 Section 2. Section 53B-10-102 is amended to read:
82 53B-10-102. Number of incentive loans -- Criteria for awarding -- Additional
83 awards.
84 (1) (a) A total of 365 Terrel H. Bell Teaching Incentive Loans shall be maintained each
85 year in accordance with criteria and procedures established by the State Board of Education and
86 State Board of Regents.
87 (b) The number of incentive loans to be awarded shall be reviewed annually based on

88 the need to prepare individuals to teach as determined by the supply of and demand for teachers
89 in the [state's public education system] state.
90 (2) These incentive loans shall be awarded in the following categories:
91 (a) incentive loans for persons who were originally awarded their loans as high school
92 juniors and seniors selected through statewide competition; [and]
93 (b) incentive loans for persons who have successfully completed not less than the
94 equivalent of two semesters of formal higher education study[.]; and
95 (c) incentive loans for persons described in Subsection 53B-10-101 (5)(c), including:
96 (i) part-time students;
97 (ii) students who already hold a bachelor's degree; and
98 (iii) other non-traditional students.
99 (3) (a) Additional awards may be given each year to a limited number of scholarship
100 holders to include the following:
101 (i) 20 state-funded premier scholarships, which provide an additional $3,000 per year
102 for winners of a widely publicized statewide competition, but the number may be increased
103 through private donations; and
104 (ii) 100 supplementary stipends paying $750 per semester, available each year for
105 students granted scholarships under Subsection (1)(b) who declare an intent to be licensed in
106 areas of critical teacher shortage as determined by the State Board of Education.
107 (b) Subsection (1)(b) applies to the awards made under Subsection (3)(a).